Among other benefits forest harvest operations in state forests:

• Utilize mature and dead, dying, and diseased trees
• Thin out overstock stands
• Improve and diversify wildlife habitat
• Control invasive exotic plants
• Effectively correct public safety concerns and issues
• Reduce the forest vulnerability to insect attack or wildlife hazard
• Improve aesthetic aspects of an era
• Improve the proportions of age class and species diversity within stands and management blocks.

See the Forest Service Annual Work Plan for specific and ongoing projects in state forests and to comment on proposed Work Plans.

State Forests in Western Maryland

• Garrett State Forest

  6,781 acres. In Garrett County, 5 miles northwest of Oakland, off U.S. Route 219. The forest contains a diversity of trees, abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery. In 1906 this forest was given to the state of Maryland and was the beginning of our present public lands system.

• Green Ridge State Forest

  43,000 acres. In eastern Allegany County, about 22 miles east of Cumberland, Exit 64 on Interstate 68. This vast forest stretches across the mountains of Western Maryland and occupies portions of Town Hill, Polish Mountain and Green Ridge Mountain. Wildlife is plentiful and includes wild turkey, grouse, squirrel and deer. There is an accessible overlook at the forest headquarters with a trail.

• Potomac State Forest

  11,461 acres. In southeastern Garrett County, off MD Route 135. The Potomac River has its headwaters in this rugged mountain forest where wildlife abounds and there is excellent trout fishing.

• Savage River State Forest

  53,500 acres. In central and eastern Garrett County, generally south of U.S. Route 40. Savage River State Forest is a strategic watershed surrounding the Savage River Reservoir. This forest is classified as a northern hardwood forest. About 2,700 acres of the forest have been designated as the Big Savage Wildland.

State Forests in Central Maryland

• Elk Neck State Forest
  

  Cecil County (410) 287-5675. 3,316 acres in Cecil County and consists of four separate tracts of land.

• Stoney Demonstration Forest

  Harford County - Managed by MD DNR Forest Service Bel Air Office at (410) 836-4551. 317.87 acres in Creswell area of Harford County. This forest serves as an educational resource where a variety of silvicultural practices, forest best management practices, and wildlife habitat management practices are implemented and studied.

State Forests in Southern Maryland

• Cedarville State Forest

  10201 Bee Oak Road, Brandywine, MD 20613 (301) 888-1410. 3,697 acres in Prince George’s and Charles Counties. Cedarville State Forest offers its visitors a beautiful woodland setting, with freshwater fishing and hiking. A visitor’s center at the state’s only warm-watery fish hatchery is open during the summer.

• Doncaster Demonstration Forest

  Charles County (301) 934-2282. 1,823 acres in Charles County. This forest serves as an educational resource where a variety of silvicultural practices, forest best management practices, and wildlife habitat management practices are implemented and studied.

State Forests in Eastern Maryland

• Chesapeake Forest Lands  

  60,872 acres on 240 separate tracts, spread across eight counties of Maryland’s lower Eastern Shore, the Chesapeake Forest Lands are Comprised of the former Chesapeake Forest Products Company lands plus several recent additions which include both the Seth Demonstration Forest in Talbot County and the Wicomico Demonstration Forest in Wicomico County. New land acquisitions are added on a regular basis.

  Pocomoke State Forest

  6572 Snow Hill Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863 (410) 632-3732 13,276 acres. In Worcester County, between Shore Hill and Pocomoke City. The forest is famous for its stand of loblolly pine trees. Cypress swamps border the Pocomoke River and the nearby waters provide good fishing. Two areas in the forest, including the swamp, are designated Wildlands Areas.